Protective sleeve



March 21, 1944. L, v, MONTGOMERY 2,344,893 PROTECTIVE SLEEVE Filed May 19, 1942 53mg H6. 4. 22

INVENTOR.

BY czmxyw ATTORNEY.

LELAND VMONTfiOMERY Patented Mar. 21, 1944 PROTECTIVE SLEEVE Leland V. Montgomery, Erie, Pa... assignor to Hays Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 19, 1942, Serial No. 443,649

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to stop cock boxes and the like, and more particularly to protective means for the upper section and the cover for stop cock boxes and the like.

All devices of this character made according to the teachings of the prior art and with which I am familiar, have had no means for protecting the upper section and cover of stop cock boxes, valve boxes, gate boxes, and the like, with the result that it has been impossible to remove the cover and upper section when cemented in a sidewalk or the like. In these prior installations, it has been necessary to spend several hours chiseling the cement away from the cover and the upper section of the box. It has been impossible to effect any repair of the upper section of the box, and once the upper section is cemented into a sidewalk, it is beyond repair and must be replaced when the cement is chiseled therefrom.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in the installation of stop cock boxes, valve boxes, gate boxes and the like, for water and gas lines, and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide means for protecting the upper section and cover of a box, which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, and eflicient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a protective sleeve for the upper sections and covers of stop cock boxes and the like, which permits removal of the cover when the stop cock box extends through a cement sidewalk or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a protective sleeve for the upper section and cover of a stop cock box or the like, which extends completely through a cement sidewalk to give complete protection to the upper section and cover of the stop cock box.

Another object of my invention is to provide a protective sleeve for the upper section and cover of stop cock boxes and the like, which permits movement of the upper section when it extends through a sidewalk or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a protective sleeve for the upper section and cover of stop cock boxes and the like when it is disposed in a cement sidewalk, which provides for the support of the upper section.

Another object of my invention is to provide ridges on the inner shoulder of a protective sleeve for the upper section and cover of a stop cock box, to permit seepage of water past the cover.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description '5 taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view with parts broken away of my novel protective sleeve surrounding the upper portion and cover on the upper section of a stop cock box.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my novel sleeve.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section view of a modified form of my novel sleeve.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a conventional stop cock box comprising a stationary lower casing I, and telescoping upper section 2. The lower casing I has an enlarged portion 3 for receiving a stop cock 4 in pipe 5. A guideway 6 interiorly of the lower casing I is engaged by a bifurcated guide portion 1 on the lower end of the upper section 2 to prevent rotation thereof. A fiat spring 8 presses against the upper section 2 to hold it in whatever position it is set. A cover 9 is threadably engaged to the threaded end in of the upper section 2.

Coming now to the gist of my invention, I surround the upper end of the upper section 2 and cover 9 with a protective sleeve having a comparatively long, slightly tapered, body portion II with the upper end I! thereof flared outwardly in the form of a cup. The sleeve is of such length that it will extend a considerable distance'below the cement sidewalk or the like in which it is cemented. The cup-shaped portion l2 of the sleeve has shoulders l3 and I4 formed therein to engage the lower edge of the cover 9 and a threaded collar or lock nut l5 threaded onto the threaded portion H) of the upper section 2. The shoulders l3 and I4 provide supports for the tel escoping upper section 2. Ridges l6 permit a seepage of water past the cover 9. In my novel construction, the upper section 2 can be withdrawn a limited amount to form new threads thereon. It may be easily removed without the chipping of any cement or the like. The cover 9 is always in an operative position whereby it can be removed to engage the rod I! to open or close the cock 4 in the pipe 5. This invention is particularly desirable at the present time because of the fact that air raids are made on cities, and most of the stop cock boxes and covers thereon are cemented into a sidewalk, making it impossible to rotate the cover to shut ofl the stop cock. It is well known that if gas can be shut off at the curb, much damage will be prevented. Fire hazards will be held to a minimum. With present protective installations, it would take considerable time to release the cover on a stop cock box in order to shut off the stop cock in a gas line. In the event that cement is placed over the cover nesting in my novel protective sleeve, it has been found that one blow of the hammer will loosen the small amount of the cement lodged around the edges of the cover.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of a modified form of protective sleeve in which radially-extending set screws 20 are disposed in the body portion 2! of a protective sleeve engaging the upper section 22 of a stop cock box. The set screws 20 prevent relative movement of the telescoping :section 2 and the protective sleeve,

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a novel protective'sleeve for protecting the upper section and cover of stop cock boxes, valve boxes, gate boxes, and the like, when these boxes extend through cement or the like. This protective sleeve is also desirable when the stop cock box cover and upper section are not cemented in the sidewalk in that it tends to prevent sinking of the telescopic section and the cover, and thereby makes it readily accessible.

Various changes in the specific embodiment of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A stop-cock box cover and protective sleeve therefor comprising a lower cylindrical member, a. telescopic sleeve disposed in said lower cylindrical member having a threaded upper portion, a threaded cover threadably engaged to the upper end of said telescopic sleeve, and a protective sleeve having a cup-shaped upper portion and a comparatively long tapered depending apron, said cup-shaped upper portion having an internal shoulder for seating and nesting said cover on said telescopic sleeve.

2. A stop-cock box cover and protective sleeve therefor as set forth in claim 1 wherein ridges are provided to space the under surface of said cover from the internal shoulder of said cup-shaped upper portion of said protective sleeve whereby water may seep into said stop-cock box.

3. A stop-cock box cover and protective sleeve therefor as set forth in claim 1 wherein threaded bolts are disposed in the apron of said protective sleeve to secure said protective sleeve to said 

